Marking carcasses



April 25, 1939. a w u Ms A Q 2,155,746

MARKING CARGASSES Filed Aug. 2, 1937 ATTORNEY Batented Apr. 25, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 111., assiznon to Industrial tents Corporation, Ohicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware muses August 2. m, Serial No. 157,051 7 Claims. (L 40-6) m'l'hihsginvention relates to an improved branda Y One of the objects. of the invention is to'provide an improved branding tag 5 Another object oi the invention is to provide an improved means for branding meat carcasses and cuts thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved branding tag and means for applying the same.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the description and claimswhich follow.

- By way of illustration, but without limitation,

} the branding tag 01' the present inventiolrwill be 16 zilegcribed iorbranding meat carcasses and cuts reof.

Heretoiore, meat carcasses, particularly those with the hide on, have been branded by tying to the hind leg a tagbeari'ng the brand or mark of the producer, grade classification, or other suitable indicia. Tags secured in this manner are often lost through handling, such as, in transit and the like. Fm-thermore, this practice is considered not satisfactory since there is nothing 2;; to prevent an unscrupulous dealer from transferring a tag from a carcass 01 one producer or grade classification-to a carcass of another producer or to a carcass of inferior quality.

The present invention is directed to a more positive means of branding meat carcasses whether with the hide on or oif, and also it is applicable to the branding of the individual carcasscuts.

The branding tag of the present invention' as comprehendssa brand plate provided wlth'relatively opposite notched prongs bent substantlally at right angles thereto. The brand plate.

is rigidly secured in a flat condition against the surface of the carcass or meat cut by embedding the notched prongs below the meat surface. The notched prongs or thetag may be pressed into the meat with the aid of an applicator-forming a part of the present invention;

In the drawing like characters of reference used to designate similar elements. Figure 1 is a plan viewof the branding tag of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the branding 3 tag showing the notched prongs bent ready for Figure 3 is a side view illustrating one form of applicator which may be employed for securing the branding tag of the present invention.

Figure 4 is another side view of the tool shown u in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating a tag Secured within the tool ready for insertion.

Figure 6 is a view of a' branded animal carcass.- The branding tag exemplified in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a brand plate i' of circular orother 5 configuration, upon which may be imprinted the marl: or brand of the producer, the grade classification of the product, or other suitable indicia. In'the drawing this indicla has been indicated by, the use of the words "Trade-mark. 10

Brand plate I is provided'with a pair or relatively oppositely disposed prongs 2, separated irom plate I as by scored lines 3. Prongs 2 are pointed at their free ends as at 4 and at each of their side edges 5 and 6 are provided with a seit ries of notched teeth I having pointed ends slanting in the direction of plate i. It is pre ferred to stagger or alternate the teeth 1 on opposite sides 5 and 6 of the prongs 2 as shown in the-drawing in order to secure greater strength 20 in the prongs 2.

The branding tag may be made of any suitable material. Since, however, the prongs 2 are secured beneath the surface of the product-it is desirable when using the branding tag on prod- 25 ucts containing moisture and especially edible products, to igrm the branding tag of'a material which. over a period of time will not have a. harmful effect upon the product, and which will not do harm to the consumer, if perchance, so parts of the embedded prongs are left remaining within the product. A branding tag formed of relatively stlfi cardboard hasbeen found very satisfactory.-

The applicator exemplified in 3 and 4 a5 l2 and. il and end edges I2 are provided with a 5 I continuous knife-like cutting edge.-

A relatively short, sharp pin i5 extends inwardly from the inner surtace it of each of the members II. The pins l5 are located near, and are slanted toward the ends l2 and serve to rig- 5o idly secure the prongs 2 against members It during their insertion within the product. The applicator is provided with a. suitable handle 11. Members I i are preferably 01' slightly greater length than prongs 2 to provide a lead cut for i line of the product until plate I is moved against the admission of prongs 2 while being pressed within the product. Also, members II are slightly narrower than prongs 2, so that after insertion within the product teeth I will be freelto immediately engage the product and thus prevent outward movement of prongs bers H are being withdrawn.

In practice, prongs 2 are bent along scored lines 3 at right angles to plate I. Plate l is next fitted within depression In and prongs 2 are secured against the members ll through themedium of pins IS. The applicator with the tag in position is then pressed into and below the surthe surface of the product. The applicator may. then be withdrawn leaving prongs 2 embedded within the product.

The tag may be applied to the carcass immediately after killing and before the flesh has be.-- come firm or after the carcass has been chilled. The former method is preferable because when the flesh congeals it securely holds the tag in place and the tag cannot be removed until the plate I is first torn from theprongs 2, and then only with the aid of a knife or other instrument. It will be seen that the tag once removed is permanently mutilated, and consequently, not transferable.

As shown in Figure 6, the tag may be applied to the several portions of the meat carcass so that if later the carcass is quartered, each quarter will be separately identified.

The tag of the present invention has been found to provide a means-of identification which may be readily seen, one which is resistant to destruction in the normal handling of the carcass, and one which provides an identification for the individual carcass parts.

The term "cardboard as herein used will be understood to include any flexible material such as strawboard, paperboard, pulpboard, and the like.

We claim:

1. In combination with a branding tag comprising a brand plate having relatively oppositely disposed notched prongs each foldableat a right angle thereto, an applicator comprising a base provided with outwardly extending relatively oppositely disposed members, said base and members having means for securing said brand plate and p'rongs therebetween. V

2. In combination with a cardboard branding tag comprising a brand plate having relatively oppositely disposed notched prongs each foldable at a right angle thereto, an applicator comprising a base having a depression in one surface thereof to accommodate said plate, said surface being provided with outwardly extending relatively op- 2 when mexnmembers being of a provided with outwardly extending relatively op- 4 positely disposed prong supporting members, said length greater than the length of said prongs and provided with means for de.- tachably engaging said prongs' for insertion of the prongs beneath the branded surface of the branded product, each of said members having a continuous relatively sharp cutting edge at each of their end and side edges.

4. A cardboard meat branding tag comprising a brand plate provided with prongs each foldable at a right angle thereto, each of the prongs being provided with notched teeth along each of the side edges thereof, the teeth being slanted toward the branding plate.

5. A cardboard meatbranding tag comprising a brand plate provided with prongs each foldable at a right angle thereto, each of the prongs being provided with, notched teeth along each of the side edges thereof, the teeth of the opposite side edges of each of the prongs being arranged in 6. In combination with a cardboard branding tag comprising a brand plate having notched prongs each foldable at a right angle thereto, an

staggered relationand slanted toward the plate.

7. In combination with a cardboard branding I tag comprising a brand plate having notched prongs each foldable at a right angle thereto, an applicator comprising a base having a depression in one surface thereof to accommodate the plate, the surface being provided with outwardly extending prong supporting members registrable with the prongs of the brand plate, the members being of a length greater than the length of the prongs and provided with means for detachably engaging the-prongs for insertion of the prongs beneath the branded surface of the branded product, each of the members having a continuous relatively sharp cutting edge along each of their end and side edges. Yo

I BEVERLY E. WILLIAMS.

ANDREW S. HARTANOV. 

